Bible Dictionary
Redemption
Redemption is the recovery of what was lost by payment of a ransom. Scripture teaches that Christ redeems sinners through his blood, delivering them from sin and its penalty.
Definition
Redemption is the purchase back of something lost by payment of a ransom or price. It denotes deliverance secured through payment rather than through the mere cancellation of a debt.
Biblical Usage
Scripture presents Christ’s blood and life, surrendered in death, as the ransom by which his people are delivered from the servitude and penalty of sin. Redemption is connected with forgiveness, purchase, sacrifice, and reconciliation to God.
Historical Background
Old Testament laws used ransom in relation to persons, land, slaves, firstborn, atonement, and sacrifice. These provisions supplied the background for the New Testament presentation of Christ’s redemptive death.
Scripture References
Matthew 20:28
Mark 10:45
Leviticus 19:20
Leviticus 25:51
Exodus 21:30
Numbers 35:31
Numbers 35:32
Isaiah 45:13
Proverbs 6:35
Numbers 3:49
Numbers 18:15
Acts 20:28
1 Corinthians 6:19
1 Corinthians 6:20
Galatians 3:13
Galatians 4:4
Galatians 4:5
Ephesians 1:7
Colossians 1:14
1 Timothy 2:5
1 Timothy 2:6
Titus 2:14
Hebrews 9:12
1 Peter 1:18
1 Peter 1:19
Revelation 5:9
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
The purchase back of something that had been lost, by the payment of a ransom. The Greek word so rendered is apolutrosis, a word occurring nine times in Scripture, and always with the idea of a ransom or price paid, i.e., redemption by a lutron (see Matt. 20:28; Mark 10:45). There are instances in the LXX. Version of the Old Testament of the use of lutron in man’s relation to man (Lev. 19:20; 25:51; Ex. 21:30; Num. 35:31, 32; Isa. 45:13; Prov. 6:35), and in the same sense of man’s relation to God (Num. 3:49; 18:15). There are many passages in the New Testament which represent Christ’s sufferings under the idea of a ransom or price, and the result thereby secured is a purchase or redemption (comp. Acts 20:28; 1 Cor. 6:19, 20; Gal. 3:13; 4:4, 5; Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14; 1 Tim. 2:5, 6; Titus 2:14; Heb. 9:12; 1 Pet. 1:18, 19; Rev. 5:9). The idea running through all these texts, however various their reference, is that of payment made for our redemption. The debt against us is not viewed as simply cancelled, but is fully paid. Christ’s blood or life, which he surrendered for them, is the “ransom” by which the deliverance of his people from the servitude of sin and from its penal consequences is secured. It is the plain doctrine of Scripture that “Christ saves us neither by the mere exercise of power, nor by his doctrine, nor by his example, nor by the moral influence which he exerted, nor by any subjective influence on his people, whether natural or mystical, but as a satisfaction to divine justice, as an expiation for sin, and as a ransom from the curse and authority of the law, thus reconciling us to God by making it consistent with his perfection to exercise mercy toward sinners” (Hodge’s Systematic Theology).